John Franklin Fillmore, 77, of Whitewood, SD, passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at Rapid City Regional Hospital, after a difficult battle with cancer and heart disease.

John was born September 30, 1937, at Spearfish, SD, to Millard and Muriel (Schaefer) Fillmore. His first home was in the Tinton area. His family later moved to Spearfish before moving to Casper, WY, for a few years. When he was 5, his family moved to Deadwood. He graduated from Deadwood High School in 1955.

In 1956, he joined the U. S. Air Force. He was stationed in South Carolina. While there, he met his bride-to-be at Myrtle Beach. He was transferred to Japan for 2 years. Upon returning from Japan, he married M. Anne Heaton on January 11, 1959. They moved to Whitewood in 1962, where he lived at his time of death. They had four daughters.

John worked in his father's hardware store before opening a grocery store in Whitewood. He graduated from Black Hills State College in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in education. He taught school for 7 years and worked as a salesman for Sears. In 1980, he opened The Donut Hole bakery in Spearfish. He sold the bakery in 1994 and semi-retired. He had several rental properties in Whitewood.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, M. Anne Fillmore; daughters, Tracy (Marvin) Fillmore-Frey, Cindy (Lyle) Long, and Kim (Jim) O'Connor; sister, Jeanne Chambers; 11 grandchildren, Amanda (Wade) Smith, John (Connie) Long, Lyle (Darcy) Long, Chad (Jami) Anderson, Jake (Kristi) Heidrich, Josh (Jenn) Long, Jason (Valerie) Anderson, Bobbi Jo (Robert) Koyama, Tiffany (Jessie) Skavang, Kelsey (David) Schweiterman, and Garrett Weber; 4 step-grandchildren, Shanna Martin, Stephanie Johnson, Scot Johnson, and Jessica Frey; 26 great-grandchildren; 3 step-great-grandchildren; an aunt; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Christy (Bob) Weber; stepgrandson, Andrew "AJ" Frey; brother-in-law, Lloyd Chambers; and son-in-law, Tom Johnson.

A memorial has been established to the Whitewood Presbyterian Church.

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